MONROVIA – For the thirty fifth (35th) year going, what has become a tradition in China’s governance system; a visit to selected African countries by its (China) Foreign Minister at the beginning of each year remains alive and even gaining more momentum-speaking from the receptions accorded the diplomat in countries enlisted, each year.
According to China’s interests of diplomatic relations, Africa is considered a special partner and as such, the first trip outside of (Mainland China) by the country’s Foreign Minister must be to Africa.
This tradition has been on for near forty years and continues to grow and take on new dimensions, especially so with the platform of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
Africa is at a critical crossroad in its strive to emancipate itself from the colonial defects, especially so that there is still an ongoing struggle among the world’s powerful nations, including former colonial masters and emerging economic powerhouses to have significant influence and exert continuous control through neocolonialist diplomacy in the continent (Africa).
While previous visits of Wang Yi, current Minister of Foreign Affairs of The People’s Republic of China, and his predecessors were significant in their own respect, each, 2025 January’s visit holds a delicate reminder of what the country ought to fulfill in Africa following the Forum on China-Africa Corporation (FOCAC) Summit recently held in Beijing.
China is the third-largest country in the world by land area of almost 9.6 million square kilometers (3,700,000 sq miles). Russia is the first largest country (16.4 million kilometers square-equivalent to 11 percent of the world’s total landmass) while Canada is the second in term of land area (9.98 square kilometers). China’s population in 2024 was estimated to be a little over 1.4 billion people, making it the second most populated country in the world, after India which has overtaken China with 1.45 billion people, according to Worldometer’s estimate of the country’s population in 2024.
Africa is 30.37 square kilometers (11.73 million square miles) in land size and consists of 54 countries. The Continent is the second largest continent after Asia-to which China and India belongs. Africa is big enough to cover the whole of China, the United States of America, India, Japan, Mexico and many European countries combined (https://www.visualcapitalist.com). The estimate population is 1.5 billion people (https://wikipedia.org).
With these comparisons drawn out, Wang visited four African countries, namely, Namibia, Republic of Congo, Chad and Nigeria. His trip began on January 6 to the 13th with the sole objective of following up on China’s commitment to ensuring the outcomes of the Beijing 2024 FOCAC Summit are materialized in the common interests on all with one vision for a shared future.
The Chinese diplomat arrived in Winhoek, capital of Namibia on Monday, January 6 and met with President Elect, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and the outgoing interim President, Nangolo Mbumba. Mbumba took charge of the country’s affairs as interim head of state following the death (in office) of President Hage Geingob.
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the President-elect, is Namibia’s first female President since its independence from South Africa on March 21, 1990. She was declared winner on December 3, 2024 following the November 27 polls. The country was earlier colonized by Germany before South Africa’s takeover following the pull-out of the latter in 1915-after 31 years of control.
Namibia is a parliamentarian democratic country and its economy is making significant strides but not short of challenges including poverty, corruption, among others.
Republic of Congo or Congo-Brazzerville is located on the Western Coast of Central Africa and is one of Africa’s blessed countries in terms of natural resources, especially oil but the country remains poor with the population barely having enough to feed lest to mention it experiencing modernization through urbanization, adequate electricity supply and sustainable quality education and healthcare system.
Chad is a Central African country laden with its own post-colonial challenges from France (former colonial master). Like every other francophone country in Africa, Chad pays royalty to France for granting it independence and for many years, the country has barely had the freedom to determine its course of existence as a independent country. Military crisis coupled with harsh economic realities have kept the country among the poorest of nations.
Nigeria, on the other hand is Africa’s most populous country with about 233 million people and it has the biggest economic potential but, its story remains a troubling reality as majority of its people continue to languish in poverty. Banditry and terrorism have long befallen the giant of Africa with Boko Haram practically presenting itself as an unbeatable terrorist group in a country that boasts of huge manpower and the sophistication of logistics in its security apparatus.
China’s interest in Africa
Of two evils, China has become the lesser one as its approach to diplomatic relations remains non-insisting and non-controlling as compared to the United States, the United Kingdom and many other European countries who, for over many years, exercised domineering power in Africa and accomplished lots of feats in their interests, leaving countries on the Continent neglected and undeveloped.
China has been blamed by some pundits of entrapping African countries in huge debts and in the end, robbing them of their resources. However, China has refuted the characterization and emphasized the principle of mutual coexistence and non interference in the internal affairs of its partners.
As the world’s second most powerful economy, the communist nation seeks Africa’s reciprocity of gestures in different means, including support at the UN on statues it believes are in line with civilization and, natural resources to keep boosting toxic-free environment, among others.
China is noted for building a lot of infrastructures in Africa compared to any other developed or developing country. The Communist nation built in the 1970s Tanzania-Zambia railway which covers 1860 kilometers.
The Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Guage Railway in Kenya is another signature project built by Chinese and it was opened to the public in 2017. Lots of sports stadiums, including the Samuel Kanyon Sports Stadium Liberia were built by China.
While it does all of its works in Africa, China also seeks natural resources such as Manganese, lithium for clean green energy.
China is the largest producer of electric vehicles and seeks Africa’s participation in the use of the vehicles as the United States and many other countries are using them.
China has instituted a couple of reforms, including the free movement of people and goods and is opening up for more business with its partners.
Wang’s recent commitments
The Chinese top diplomat said it is time China supports Africa correct “historical injustices” that have led to the Continent remaining at the bottom advancement in development on all fronts.
He said China remains dedicated to its non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, including African countries but commits to supporting peace and stability. China boasts of having the largest peacekeeping force in the world and has been a part of many peacekeeping missions around the world, including Liberia.
Namibia is the third largest producer of uranium in the world and is also a Maritime partner with China. China promised investment opportunities for the Southern African country.
Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Republic of Congo-(Brazzerville) is expected to co-chair the September 2027 FOCAC. During the recent visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister to his country, Nguesso said “The Republic of Congo is prepared to strengthen solidarity with the People’s Republic of China under the framework of FOCAC.”
In response, Wang said his country is “prepared to build a high level China-Congo community with a shared future in the new era.”
Chad has, for many years been dealing with its internal security crisis as there has been insurgency challenging government, an experience that has led to the death of may people and the destruction of properties. France has been maintaining troops in the country but is now withdrawing them, leaving the country to take charge of its own security affairs in all dimensions.
Wang promised security aids to
Chad that is already hosting thousands of refugees from Sudan, although it is struggling with its own security crisis
Nigeria is the biggest economic player in Africa and it is located in Western part of the country as Liberia is. China constructed the headquarters of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional bloc, in Nigeria.
In his recent visit, Wang was received by Yusuf Maitama Tuggar on the 9th of this month (January 2025).
2024 FOCAC Summit in Beijing
As reported in the Daily Observer, Fifty-three Presidents from Africa, including President Joseph Nyumah Boakai of Liberia, assembled in Beijing in September 2024 to attend another edition of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) with the aim of realizing tangible benefits for their respective countries.
China is now a world leading economic powerhouse; sitting only second to the United States but the Asian country seems to be unhappy with Africa’s high level of poverty including poor infrastructure and lack of modernization to meet the current day global realities.
Hence, its launch of FOCAC in 2000 set in motion an agenda focused on not only solidifying cordial and better diplomatic ties with African countries but also take a leapfrog jump in having a major voice in the development and modernization of the continent by use of its (China’s) abundant expertise in various development programs.
As China splashes its billions of dollars on African countries’ development initiatives, there are concerns about long lasting and perpetuating debt entrapment.
On the other hand, however, many Chinese see these concerns as mere political rhetoric by international monetary organizations and the West who do not want Africa to graduate from the state of impoverishment to a more prosperous and modernized continent.
Like almost all of the countries in Africa, China was once a troubled country where peace, unity and stability were elusive and survival was a matter of the fittest. The country also experienced oppression at the hands of colonialists, as well as other rivals who supported internal rebel factions, fueling tribal and ethnic violence, and regional disputes, among others.
At the 2024 FOCAC, President Xi Jinping emphasized that China is not interested in exploiting African countries but rather in building with them a win-win cooperation that would engender development and modernization.
“Modernization is an inalienable right of all countries. But the Western approach to it has inflicted immense sufferings on developing countries,” President xi told his counterparts.
China gained its independence on October 1, 1949 following its victory against Japan’s aggression.
Xi encouraged African leaders to pursue the common good of their people and ensure development and modernization become realities for the benefit of their respective citizens.
“We should jointly advance modernization that is just and equitable. In promoting modernization, we should not only follow the general rules, but also act in light of our national realities. China is ready to increase exchanges of governance experience with Africa, support all countries in exploring modernization paths befitting their national conditions, and help ensure equal rights and equal opportunities for all countries,” he said.
He added that China and Africa should endeavor to ensure that there is a mutual and win for both sides in all dealings.
“We should jointly advance modernization that is open and win-win. Mutually beneficial cooperation is the sunny road to the betterment of long-term and fundamental interests of all countries. China is ready to deepen cooperation with Africa in industry, agriculture, infrastructure, trade and investment, promote exemplary, high-quality Belt and Road cooperation projects, and build together a model for the delivery of the Global Development Initiative,” Xi pointed out.
He expressed delight that Africa is also awakening and is fighting for its right spot in the global setting.
China has over the years disclosed its displeasure at the way Africa is treated by the United Nations, mainly by not allowing the continent a seat on the Security Council. “Africa cannot continue to be a part of a menu. Africa needs its own right spot in the United Nations, including the Security Council,” Wang Yi, Foreign Minister of China told African journalists a few months ago in Beijing.
President Xi Jinping admonished African leaders to put their people first and invest in programs that would improve their lives and change their conditions for the better.
“We should jointly advance modernization that puts the people first. The ultimate goal of modernization is the free and full development of human beings. China will work vigorously with Africa to promote personnel training, poverty reduction and employment, enhance the sense of gain, happiness and security of the people in the course of modernization, and ensure that all will benefit from the process.”
He continued: “We should jointly advance modernization featuring diversity and inclusiveness. Well-balanced material and spiritual advancement is a lofty objective of modernization. China will enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges with Africa, champion mutual respect, inclusiveness and coexistence of different civilizations on our way to modernization, and strive together for more fruitful outcomes under the Global Civilization Initiative.”
He concluded by encouraging eco-friendly cooperation as well as ensuring that peace and security remain paramount, too.
“Modernization would not be possible without a peaceful and stable environment for development. China is ready to help Africa improve its capacity in safeguarding peace and stability independently, prioritize Africa in implementing the Global Security Initiative, promote mutual reinforcement of high-quality development and greater security, and work together with Africa to uphold world peace and stability,” he said.
Discussion about this post